Noisy Deadlines

“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” – Douglas Adams

  • Another multi-week Week Notes!
  • 🏅 I ran the 10K for the Army Run! I was consistent with last year's time, with my usual 65 minutes. To be more exact, this year I was 17 seconds slower, but I am still happy that I kept my pace for the full 10Km. It was a gorgeous day, not too cold, not too hot, perfect for running.
  • 📘 I got a new cover for my Kobo, since my original one was falling apart. I had to get a knock-off copy, since Kobo stopped selling the original ones for the Kobo Libra H2O 2019. But it’s very similar to the original and works as intended.
  • 🎲 I got a board game for two players: “7 Wonders Duel”. We haven't tried it yet, but I'm excited to see how it works. And while we were at the store, we got two expansion packs for Munchkin: “Unnatural Axe” and “Munchkin Enhancers”.
  • 🎭 I've had days with extremely low energy these past few weeks, and I'm doing a full bloodwork evaluation for a check-up.
  • ⏪ I felt lost and a bit overwhelmed at some point at work because I didn't have clarity on where to write my next actions and where to store digital information. I was trying to get a hybrid system going with Nirvana, my digital Calendar, and the Bullet Journal, and it became a mess. I decided that I want to minimize digital apps as much as possible.
  • 💭 Thinking about doing a 30-day digital declutter next month.
  • ⌨️ But I still enjoy typing long streams of consciousness entries. Some days it's nice to just log into 750 Words and type away. Since I type faster than I write by hand, it serves a different purpose for me: it's all about letting it all out without a filter.
  • 📖 I started reading “The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper” by Roland Allen. It's super interesting, and it suits my current analog phase well.
  • 🪮 I got a haircut!
  • 👾 This blog now has a square spot at the Pixel Area! Thanks, Oleh! My square: **Noisy Deadlines · [X:72 Y:11] **at the Echo Heights neighborhood.

📌 Cool online reads

🎧 Listening

  • The Wall by Pink Floyd (1979)
  • Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath (1970)
  • Paranoid by Black Sabbath (1970)
  • Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975)
  • Human. :II: Nature by Nightwish (2020)

📖 Books I'm Reading

  • The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen
  • Before, After, Alone by Emma Newman

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#weeknotes

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By Noisy Deadlines Minimalist in progress, nerdy, introvert, skeptic. I don't leave without my e-reader.

  • 🤘️ The big event for me these past weeks was the Iron Maiden concert which I wrote about here. I also used the opportunity to go explore downtown Toronto on foot, which was something I've never done. And it's a busy city, on the weekend we were there, the Toronto BlueJays were playing at the Skydome and it was also FanExpo weekend. It was fun to see this mix of people with Iron Maiden t-shirts, Bluejays fans and all sorts of cosplays characters walking around town.
  • 👣 The Toronto weekend also included: a visit to the CN Tower, Queen's Park, UoT campus, Victoria College, Philosopher's Walk, Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Toronto Railroad Museum and Royal Ontario Museum (just the main entrance, it was such a beautiful day and we didn't want to spend the day inside). Lots of walking!
  • 📽️ I went to the movies to see “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”. The movie was great, although I wasn't expecting it to be so sad. I learned that definitely I don't like these “ScreenX” rooms, some notes here.
  • ✒️ I completed Blaugust! Final thoughts here.
  • 📼 I saw that the “Iron Maiden: The Early Years Documentary” is available on the band's official You Tube channel on. I watched this on VHS many, many years ago. But also, there is a new documentary released earlier this year called “IRON MAIDEN: BURNING AMBITION”. I haven't seen it yet, but I added it to my “to-watch” list.
  • 🎲 My partner and I wanted to get a board game that was made for 2 players only, and people recommended “7 Wonders Duel”. We got it, plus the expansion “Pantheon” and while we were at the store, we also got some Munchkin expansion packs (Munchkin 2 Unnatural Axe + Enhancers).
  • 🎽 I didn't run this week because my right knee was not feeling great. I did go twice to the gym instead and did some stationary biking combined with some weight training. Leg strengthening actually helps a lot. I plan on going for a run later today and see how it goes.

🎧 Listening

  • Candlemass – Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (1986)
  • Iron Maiden – Fear of the Dark (1992)
  • Iron Maiden – Powerslave (1984)
  • Iron Maiden – Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988)
  • Castle Rat – Into the Real (2024)
  • Castle Rat – The Bestiary (2025)

📖 Books I'm Reading

  • The Unraveling by Benjamin Rosenbaum
  • Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots
  • Radical Candor by Kim Scott

📌 Cool online reads

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#weeknotes #heavymetal

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By Noisy Deadlines Minimalist in progress, nerdy, introvert, skeptic. I don't leave without my e-reader.

Thomas Rigby suggested I write this “Five Ws of Reading”, which is super fun!

I'll link below to the other posts I came across using these prompts. Let me know if you wrote one! Go to Thomas’ post to get an easy copy/paste of the questions if you like.

WHO – An author you would love to have a ‘one to one’ with?

I would like to have a chat with Isaac Asimov. I would like to discuss with him the “Three Laws of Robotics” and how they would apply to our current state of technology. I would like to know his thoughts about the Internet, artificial intelligence, social media, bots, slop, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

WHAT – What genre do you most gravitate to?

I've always been interested in both Science-Fiction and Fantasy since my early childhood. Lately I've been gravitating more towards Science-Fiction, even though I've read a lot of Fantasy.

Actually, I have data to prove this point. I used The StoryGraph to generate two reports: a list of all the books I've read by genre and a list of the 5-star rated books by genre (I'm showing here only the top 10 genres)

Overall, I've read more Fantasy than Sci-fi, in terms of total number of books read (757 tracked books in total, of which 208 were Fantasy):

My all time books read stats by genre (generated by The StoryGraph)

But If I look at my favorite books, rated with 5 Stars, then the winner is Science Fiction:

My all-time 5-star rated books, by genre

So, science fiction it is!

WHERE – Where do you prefer to read?

At home, in my reading corner, with blankets and a cup of tea. Snacks are good too. But I literally carry my Kobo with me anywhere, so anywhere can work too (the only time I don’t have my Kobo within easy reach is when I’m out running or exercising at the gym).

WHEN – What time of day do you prefer to read?

I love reading in the mornings, but during weekdays I end up not having that much time available before work. On the weekends I love starting the morning reading a book, while having a slow breakfast. But as long as I have the energy, any time is a good time to read for me. I try to squeeze out any downtime I have during the day to read.

WHY – Why is your favourite book your favourite book?

It's because I like the characters and it has an interesting plot. If I don't relate to at least one character, then I'm more likely to stop reading the book. It's also because I enjoy the narrative voice. I have to be able to create an emotional connection to the story. The storytelling style must match the character's personality and point of view. In summary, I care deeply about the world and its characters.

A book that took me into a fascinating world

For some reason “Dune” by Frank Herbert came to my mind. I first read this book 25 years ago, and I still think about it. It was such an immersive experience for me. The way it builds an entire universe, with its own unique ecosystem, religion, politics, philosophical discussions, and power struggles is amazing.

A book that made me cry (or maybe two)

“Everything is Tuberculosis” by John Green. It's a great mix of personal stories and historical data about tuberculosis. It is a call to action that left me feeling both devastated and hopeful.

But I would also include here the graphic novel “Maus” by Art Spiegelman. I still think about this novel. I caught myself in tears in many moments while I was reading. It’s not an easy topic (Nazism and the story of a Polish Jew who survived Auschwitz concentration camp). Extremely touching. We can't forget this horror so as to not repeat it again, ever.

A book that was thoughtful and profound

“The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark” by Carl Sagan has shaped a lot of my worldview. It is not only a defense of science against pseudoscience, but also a celebration of human curiosity with its sense of wonder about the universe. I still remember the “Baloney Detection Kit” and “The Dragon in My Garage” story. This book is timeless, and it's a reminder that a little common sense and healthy skepticism are some of the best tools we have for looking out for one another.

A “comfort” book, read and re-read many times

I'm not a big re-reader. But if I have to name a book I've re-read multiple times, that's “Getting Things Done” by David Allen. I still learn a lot each time I read this book. It is a book that has shaped my adult life and helped me organize my thoughts and my goals and led me to think about higher horizons like life purpose and principles. If you have read this blog for a while, you already know how much I like this author.

I have a huge TBR list! I mark the books I want to read on The StoryGraph, and right now, I have 384 books in there (yeah, I probably need to do a clean-up).

At the beginning of every year, I create a shortlist for the next 12 months and drop it into an Excel spreadsheet. I use the fantastic one developed by the creators of the “Currently Reading” podcast.

Then each month I compile a shortlist from my local Book Club (or another online book club I follow) and my personal wish list. I keep this updated weekly using The StoryGraph 'Up Next' feature to track books I want to tackle next. I limit this list to up to 5 books, never more.

I think that other than following book club picks, I just go with what my gut tells me.

Other great posts to read with the Five Ws of Reading:

List of Books mentioned in this post:

(Publication date at the end)

  1. “Dune” by Frank Herbert (1965)

  2. “Everything is Tuberculosis” by John Green (2025)

  3. “Maus” by Art Spiegelman (1994)

  4. “The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark” by Carl Sagan (1997)

  5. “Getting Things Done” by David Allen (2001)

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#readinglist #books #reading

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By Noisy Deadlines Minimalist in progress, nerdy, introvert, skeptic. I don't leave without my e-reader.

To end the month of August with Blaugust, I wanted to write about some lessons learned.

I will reach my 15 blog posts goal as I publish this one, which is great! I did it! 🙌

One thing Blaugust helped me with was to lower my expectations, meaning, less perfectionism. I usually have an idea to write a blog post, and then I want to write a structured post, with intro, development and conclusion. And get all the references right, and edit it perfectly, and add the right images, and so on. Doing all of that takes time, and I realized I don’t have that much time anymore. Blaugust helped me see that I can break a few self-imposed rules about what a “proper” blog post needs to be.

And that means that I can share my thoughts while they are still fresh, without being over-polished. Not all posts need to have a conclusion, I can just throw away some thoughts and hit publish and that’s okay.

The post No big deal was from a draft I started two years ago and had never published because I thought it wasn’t good enough.

The post The only woman in the room was written during a lunch break, and I didn’t worry too much about structure.

The post Iron Maiden: Run for your Lives 2026 was written in a hotel lobby on some downtime before I left to catch a train. And I hit publish in the train station lobby minutes before entering said train. And that meant there were some typos in that post, which were corrected when I saw them.

All these really pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I’m glad they did!

But also, I don’t have that much energy anymore. Aging is real, and with it comes a shift in priorities where protecting my time and energy matters far more than obsessing over an ideal draft. Between work, personal life, house chores, reading, blogging, my well-being routines and whatever else, I have to be intentional about where my energy goes.

I planned on reading more of the other blogs participating, and I did read a few, here are some blog posts I enjoyed from which I discovered new bloggers for my RSS feed:

Looking back on this month, I am so happy I decided to participate in Blaugust. It was exactly the push I needed to re-evaluate my relationship with writing and get back into a healthy rhythm. Writing 15 posts per month might be my upper monthly limit as of right now, and that’s okay!

Congrats to everyone else who took part this year! It doesn’t matter if you hit your goal, posted once or just spent the month reading along. I believe we’ve all learned something! It’s great to see that there are people interested in keeping the personal web alive and delightfully imperfect!

Post 15 of #Blaugust #NoisyMusings #blogging

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By Noisy Deadlines Minimalist in progress, nerdy, introvert, skeptic. I don't leave without my e-reader.

  • Leviathan Falls (The Expanse #9) by James S.A. Corey, 529p: I didn’t want it to end, but all good sagas must come to a close. We see what’s left of the Rocinante crew as fugitives, now joined by Teresa Duarte (daughter of the Laconian high consul, Winston Duarte). There is a lot going on as bizarre, physics-bending anomalies begin to manifest within the ring space, threatening the existence of humanity. It’s tense, and full of high stakes with interesting viewpoints from Colonel Tanaka and Elvi. I think it was a satisfying conclusion to the series even though it does not answer all the questions. Sometimes, knowing less is better.
  • Platform Decay (The Murderbot Diaries #8) by Martha Wells, 256p: Another adventure with Murderbot. Very consistently good, delivering the usual cynical humor and inner monologues. To be honest, nothing in particular stood out to me, but it is still a solid comfort read.
  • Cryoburn (Vorkosigan Saga (Publication Order) #14) by Lois McMaster Bujold, 345p: We get into cryogenics shenanigans and politics with Miles investigating a major “cryocorp” called WhiteChrys, on the distant planet of Kibou-daini. I enjoyed the three different POVs: Miles, his Armsman Roic, and a local boy called Jin Sato. We also get to see Raven, a cryo-revival specialist from the Durona Group who assisted in reviving Miles after his death on Jackson's Whole in a previous book. Another great book in the Vorkosigan saga, that brings me closer to finishing the series!

Post 14 of #Blaugust #readinglist #books #reading

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By Noisy Deadlines Minimalist in progress, nerdy, introvert, skeptic. I don't leave without my e-reader.

🤘 I went to see Iron Maiden for the first time this weekend! It's something I've always wanted to do but never had the chance.

The funny thing is that I never thought it would be possible for me to see them. You know this “Run For Your Lives World” is celebrating their 50th anniversary, since their formation in 1975. And the set list is basically from their first album “Iron Maiden” from 1980 until their ninth album “Fear of the Dark” from 1992.

I didn't think they would still be doing big world tours.

Last year I was in a store to buy an Iron Maiden t-shirt (as you do) and I was chatting with the shop assistant who mentioned that Iron Maiden was coming to Canada in 2026. And I was like “Really??”.I was completely out of the loop.

Fast forward to this weekend, I saw them at the Scotiabank arena in Toronto. And it was awesome! They really do a flawless show, and Bruce Dickinson and all of the other members are in top shape.

The set list was excellent, and I gotta say that seeing “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” being played live was worth it just by itself. I feel like this setlist was made for me, it's just the best of Iron Maiden “Best of”. I was singing along with them on all the songs, because basically I know them all by heart.

The opening show was Megadeth. I'm not the greatest Megadeth fan, I know a couple of albums. Their concert was okay by itself, but there is no comparison with Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson charisma and energy. Also there was something odd about their setup, I don't think they were using the main sound system that Iron Maiden used, Dave Mustaine's vocals were a bit off, and I couldn't understand well what he was saying most of the time.

Anyway, I was impressed with the big digital screens and the pyrotechnics of the Iron Maiden show. It was really well done, matching the songs lyrics and all. Also, giant Eddie was there as well!

It was totally worth it and I'm glad I took the chance to go see them.

I'd like to thank Andreas for helping me out to get a good earplug. I used the high fidelity Alpine MusicSafe Pro, and it worked pretty well. I've got no headaches or ringing or anything.

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Post 13 of #Blaugust #NoisyMusings #music #heavymetal

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By Noisy Deadlines Minimalist in progress, nerdy, introvert, skeptic. I don't leave without my e-reader.

Inspired by the 5 Albums post, I was thinking about the 5 fiction books that shaped me. I am going mostly from memory. I just want to list whatever comes to my mind first. These are all books that influenced my reading life in one way or another.

  1. The Hobbit / Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien: Yeah, I know, not one book. I am already bending the rules here. But I cannot talk about LOTR without The Hobbit, and vice versa. I would also include The Silmarillion here as well. I was completely immersed in this fantasy world from the first time I read The Hobbit.

  2. Dune by Frank Herbert: It has been a while since I read this one, but I remember it blew my mind back then. I am secretly afraid of re-reading this book and getting disappointed (I am not sure it aged well). But from what I remember, the complex politics and alien world elements got me super interested in this type of sci-fi.

  3. I, Robot by Isaac Asimov: This is another one that I consider a whole series, but this was the first book I read. I loved learning about the positronic brain and the laws of robotics. It was fascinating to see a robopsychologist! I will also include The Caves of Steel and The Naked Sun here. Great sci-fi! I want to read them all again.

  4. Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle: I absolutely love these books! I can read them over and over. They are great! I used to have a collection of used Sherlock Holmes books. The first time I read them, I borrowed them from the library. After that, I would go to used bookstores and try to find old editions. I love the way Sherlock Holmes pays attention to the smallest details and comes up with deductions using logical reasoning. When the mystery is solved, it is so satisfying!

  5. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams: Again, the whole series is included here. These books are a masterpiece of clever humor with scientific nuggets of information. I love how it makes fun of technology, plays with the laws of physics, and is just so much fun. I recently listened to the first two audiobooks, and they are so good!

And now that listed them all I realized it's a list of 5 book series! Ok, I’ll change the title. So, there you go!

— Post 12 of #Blaugust #Books

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By Noisy Deadlines Minimalist in progress, nerdy, introvert, skeptic. I don't leave without my e-reader.

I went to the movies with my partner to see the new “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”. Fun movie, btw. More dramatic than what I was expecting. But this is not about the movie itself.

I usually don't like 3D because it gives me a headache, so I was looking at the options on the Cineplex website to get the tickets and I saw “ScreenX” and “Ultra AVX”. I have not been up to date with movie theater technologies, so I just picked the one that had the best time available for us.

And that was the ScreenX one (for some reason this name sounds like a glass cleaner product or something).

ScreenX is described as having:

...270-degree panoramic screen in select scenes that naturally fills your peripheral vision and surrounds you with boundless adventure.

Okay, so it will be like a curved wide screen right?

Wrong.

It was a normal rectangular room, with the main screen located where it usually is, with the side walls having screens as well. So, the lateral screens are situated at almost 90-degrees angle with the big screen. Not really the panoramic view I was expecting.

All of this to say that this experience gave me a major migraine. The “peripheral” screens did not work for me at all. I tried to focus on the main screen anyway, since most of the scene was there, but the glare and brightness of these lateral screens affected me somehow.

I left the movie theater feeling exhausted, with a headache and not wanting to see bright lights. Or the sun, or any lights. I came home and had to lie down in the dark for about an hour to feel better about my vision. I also took Ibuprofen, because it was that bad.

Even after a night's sleep I still had a headache the next day, and I couldn't stare at my computer screen for too long. Even reading was hard because of the headache.

I feel better today, but I'm trying to take computer breaks more frequently at work.

Lesson learned: never go for ScreenX again.

Post 11 of #Blaugust #journal #NoisyMusings

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By Noisy Deadlines Minimalist in progress, nerdy, introvert, skeptic. I don't leave without my e-reader.

I started a personal Bullet Journal in June 2026, so it’s been a little bit over 2 months.

I read the book “The Bullet Journal Method” by Ryder Carroll and watched some online videos. This is the second time I’ve tried Bullet Journaling, the first time was roughly a year ago. As I wrote in this post I’ve been drawn to paper more and more lately.

I followed the basic Bullet Journal (or BuJo) setup steps, which include:

  1. Choosing tools: notebook and pen

  2. Doing a mental inventory (very similar to the GTD mind sweep) and separating items into 3 sections: Doing, Need to do, and Want to do (these are used to populate the BuJo lists)

  3. Adding your name and phone number to the notebook (in case it gets lost)

  4. Setting intentions

  5. Setting up the Index

  6. Setting a spread for the Future Log

  7. Starting the first Daily Log and rapid logging

  8. Doing a Weekly Reflection at the end of the week

  9. Setting up a Weekly Plan and a Monthly Log

  10. Adding new Collections as needed

The Tools

I chose a Hardcover Leuchtturm1917 size B6+ with 80g/sqm paper. I like the size, not too big, not too small. I carry it with me together with my Kobo Libra. I added a pen loop so that I always have my Pentel EnerGel 0.5mm in blue with it.

But I also use additional assorted highlighters (Mildliners), colored pens and black Micron pens for titles.

Initial Pages

The Leuchtturm1917 notebook already comes with dedicated pages for Index, so that was easy. I added a post-it on the back cover with my “Key” which is simply a quick reference that lists all the symbols I’m using for rapid logging.

Then there is the Intentions page, which is emphasized a lot by the Bullet Journal author, as it encourages us to clarify what we hope to accomplish and keep our daily actions aligned with our broader goals.

After that I have the “Future Log” which covers the next 6 months from the date I started the journal. In this case, it was from July to December. This spread holds future dates, planned events, planned start of projects.

Because I am a GTD’er I couldn’t start without setting my “Projects List” and my “Waiting For List”. I also setup “Someday Log” page. These are considered “Custom Collections” in BuJo lingo.

Daily Logs

I spend most of my time with the Daily Logs. These are setup the day before or early in the morning. One thing that I like to do is have my core habits at the top everyday (Yoga/Stretching, Meditation, Reading) so that I check them daily.

Then I add events from my calendar from the day, and any actions I want to get done. The interesting thing about BuJo is that it works as both a journal and task manager tool. So I jot down ideas, tasks, thoughts, feelings and reflections on the daily log.

I am using the original notation system, as described in this page:

  • Notes: Indicated by a dash (–), are for logging ideas, insights, dates, data, and facts.
  • Actions: Indicated by a simple dot (•), are for logging actions. As opposed to checkboxes, Actions can have multiple states, like completed (X), moved(>), canceled, delegated(/), and so on.
  • Moods: Indicated by the equals sign (=), are for logging feelings. These can be emotional or physical feelings like joy, pressure in the chest, butterflies, anxiety, fatigue, excitement, etc.
  • Events: Indicated by an open circle (◯), is for experiences, such as appointments, meetings, parties, or deadlines.

An example of my Daily Log spread

Weekly Reflection / Plan

Similar to the GTD Weekly Review, BuJo recommends a Weekly Reflection.

I start with:

  • Tidy Records: go back and review the past week to update any information, check completed actions, migrate any items to different logs (future log, monthly log), cross off any canceled actions.
  • Process Inbox: this comes from GTD, and I process my physical inbox and my email inbox.
  • Check Calendar: I review my digital calendar and add dates to my Bullet Journal for the following week.

Then I reflect on the past week and take some notes answering the following questions:

  • What went well?
  • What could go better?
  • What will I do this week?

An example of my weekly reflection/plan

Next, I create a page with my week action plan. I like to create my core habits tracker, a space for upcoming events/dates and then the next actions I plan on doing that week. I’ve started adding the books I will be reading as well.

Monthly Log

I really like the Monthly Log collection. It helps me get a birds-eye view of what’s coming ahead and it also functions as a record of milestones and wins.

I set the left side as described in the book with the list of the days of the month. Very simple. This video from Ryder Carroll explains the different time horizons and how they work together.

On the right side I add the books I want to read, the focus of the month and then a list of next actions. Every week I will review this list to migrate actions to Week Plan. Some of them go directly to my Daily Plan as well.

Monthly Log

Custom Collections

I can use any other page of the notebook to add custom collections, like this one I created for Blaugust. Or add notes from a book I’ve read. Or plan a project. It can be anything! And then I add the page number to the Index so I can come back to it.

I also use sticky tabs to mark pages I want to quickly reference, like the current Monthly Log.

—

And that is my current setup!

I don’t prepare any week spreads in advance, and I don’t reserve any blank pages. It all goes sequentially, whenever I find the next blank page. I will occasionally use stickers, something I got from using Happy Planners. But other than that, I try to keep it easy to use. No crazy decorations.

And here are some of the references I used in this journey:

References

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Post 10 of #Blaugust #Productivity #journal #journaling #bujo

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By Noisy Deadlines Minimalist in progress, nerdy, introvert, skeptic. I don't leave without my e-reader.

I used to give the same level of importance to a lot of things in my life: a failed brownie recipe, a delayed email reply, missing a phone call, right alongside a critical project deadline or a major construction estimate mistake that could cost thousands of dollars.

Here is something I learned through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that helps me a lot.

I used to have intense reactions to simple things at work, like an email about a new incoming task or project. I would read it and immediately feel overwhelmed, as if I had to finish the task/answer right away. I had a CBT coach who taught me to pause and analyze what I was feeling by asking these questions:

  • How am I feeling? Anxiety, lightheadedness, butterflies in the stomach, sweating, dizziness, a headache.

  • Why am I having these feelings? I think I need to answer right away, but I don't have the answer. I have to stop and search for it.

  • What happens if I don't answer the question or demand right away? The subcontractor won't have the right information, so they won't price it correctly and will miss part of the scope.

  • What happens if a trade misses part of the scope? What will happen to me? I'll hear complaints from a project manager telling me I missed the scope, which makes the project go over budget.

  • Why is that a problem? How much of that is up to you? How would you feel about it? I'd feel ashamed and blame myself for the error. People will think I'm stupid for having missed that.

And that was the realization: I feel so overwhelmed because, in my head, I process any delay as a complete failure and imagine the worst possible outcome: being considered stupid or incompetent.

That was a cathartic moment for me during the session. I was sweating, trying to articulate a comment, and stumbling over my words. It was a revelation.

Then the coach asked me, “What would be the solution?”

He suggested a simple one: just reply to the incoming email with, “I will look into that and reply as soon as I can.” Boom! Simple. Obvious. I felt like an idiot for not having thought of it myself.

That just showed how many underlying thoughts I've had and how much they have been blurring my vision.

The coach had me imagine a good outcome. He said I was having avoidance issues and needed to take steps to overcome them.

A good outcome looks like this:

  1. Reply to the message, saying I'll take a look at it. That way, I get part of it out of my head. It's the first step to taking action.

  2. Note the request. Write down what is needed and the steps required to resolve it. Define the next actions.

  3. Look at all the other actions I planned for my day. Can I move any of them around to focus on this new one? Decide how to prioritize. Maybe I need more time and can wait until the next day or the end of the day to take action. Prioritize.

  4. Realize it's not a big deal! Cultivate a feeling of confidence and self-efficacy. That's how I want to feel. It's just a request. I process it, plan it, and solve it. NO BIG DEAL!

Post 09 of #Blaugust #journal #health #mentalhealth

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By Noisy Deadlines Minimalist in progress, nerdy, introvert, skeptic. I don't leave without my e-reader.

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